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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 9, 2007 10:14:44 GMT 1
Tadpoles are vegetarian in the early stages too The witch, about the time they develop the back legs they begin to eat each other  |
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Post by plocket on Apr 9, 2007 19:06:10 GMT 1
Oh lovely! Still at least it means that there won't be too many in my little water garden!
We had an exciting find at the weekend. We did a bit of work on M&D's pond this weekend: we planted the plants I bought mum for her birthday, and floated a wooden raft in the middle of the pond because mum wants to encourage ducks to nest. But the BIG news is that we found TWO great crested newts! At least I THINK they were great crested newts. There were lots of other newts but these were speckled with a distinct frill along the back and tail. Can anyone confirm or otherwise what these newts might have been?
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 9, 2007 21:18:53 GMT 1
Oh lovely! Still at least it means that there won't be too many in my little water garden! We had an exciting find at the weekend. We did a bit of work on M&D's pond this weekend: we planted the plants I bought mum for her birthday, and floated a wooden raft in the middle of the pond because mum wants to encourage ducks to nest. But the BIG news is that we found TWO great crested newts! At least I THINK they were great crested newts. There were lots of other newts but these were speckled with a distinct frill along the back and tail. Can anyone confirm or otherwise what these newts might have been? The great crested newt should have a much larger tail with a silver streak and a warty skin. www.lbap.org.uk/bap/species/newt.htmwww.wildlifetrust.org.uk/urbanwt/WIS_pages/Newts.htmweb.ukonline.co.uk/conker/newts.htm |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 9, 2007 22:06:39 GMT 1
Oh how wonderful!....... if they are Gt crested Newts, I cant wait for Plocket to reply now! ;D
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Post by madonplants on Apr 9, 2007 23:52:16 GMT 1
Plocket, why does your M&D want ducks to nest? They 'may' create havoc for the wildlife in the pond, destroy the pond plants, eat frogspawn, upset the newts, I could go on.! I have heard of too many horror stories to want to steer clear of ducks in a small garden pond. Ducks need vegetation and protein to live.
If they really want ducks then a proper houses on dry land with a wooden solid ladder going down into the water would be better. You could get away without the ladder, if sited close to the waters edge.
Sorry for the bad news, just thought I would mention it.
Keith
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 10, 2007 7:47:27 GMT 1
I know you're right about the ducks Keith but I do love a duck pond! Before we filled it in to make a play area (and once the ducks had died of old age) I had a reasonable sized pond which only had one exit/entrance point for my two Saxony ducks. It didn't have any fish and was devoted to wild plants and the ducks didn't do too much damage. They did damage the plants round their way in but because they were too big to climb the sides elsewhere there were lots of plants still. I miss my pond........and my ducks...
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Post by plocket on Apr 10, 2007 8:45:06 GMT 1
Hia! Thanks for the links Sleepy but I'm still not sure what we found in the way of newts. They look a bit like both of the pictures from the Wildlife Trust! They were dark with big almost black spots and the crest was more obvious on the tail but seemed bigger than those shown on the piccies. We'll have to catch one and take a photo!!! Thanks Madon for the comments about ducks - I have told M&D about the down aspects but they are still keen for some reason. I think they hope that because the pond is big, ducks won't cause too much of a problem.  |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 10, 2007 12:07:17 GMT 1
Hia! Thanks for the links Sleepy but I'm still not sure what we found in the way of newts. They look a bit like both of the pictures from the Wildlife Trust! They were dark with big almost black spots and the crest was more obvious on the tail but seemed bigger than those shown on the piccies. We'll have to catch one and take a photo!!! Thanks Madon for the comments about ducks - I have told M&D about the down aspects but they are still keen for some reason. I think they hope that because the pond is big, ducks won't cause too much of a problem. What happens if they breed?!! They have to think what is more important to them. Frogs and newts or ducks. Just found this so maybe those horror stories I have been told are true! Keith |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 10, 2007 12:12:19 GMT 1
Hia! Thanks for the links Sleepy but I'm still not sure what we found in the way of newts. They look a bit like both of the pictures from the Wildlife Trust! They were dark with big almost black spots and the crest was more obvious on the tail but seemed bigger than those shown on the piccies. We'll have to catch one and take a photo!!! Thanks Madon for the comments about ducks - I have told M&D about the down aspects but they are still keen for some reason. I think they hope that because the pond is big, ducks won't cause too much of a problem. What happens if they breed?!! They have to think what is more important to them. Frogs and newts or ducks. Just found this so maybe those horror stories I have been told are true! Keith Three years ago I had two ducks settle on my pond for a week. Never again. After 1 week all I had was a muddy puddle. All plant life and all animal life was gone - and the water was churned up. They came again this year, but I shooed them away. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 10, 2007 12:28:31 GMT 1
We kept ducks (for eggs) once in the distant past, the smell they made was appalling we gave them a pond, and it stunk so bad, we had to change the water almost daily, after a week of almost nightly visits by foxes the problem wasnt ours any more  but the smell took a long time to go away |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 10, 2007 14:28:52 GMT 1
The other thing to think about, is the link ducks have with bird flu. Another reason to think twice about keeping them in the first place! Just seen a query on the BBC MB's asking advice about keeping ducks as they keep eating the reeds and lilies! They don't want to use chicken wire, so there options are few and far between, I think!
Keith
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Post by plocket on Apr 10, 2007 18:27:05 GMT 1
I'll report all this to M&D but knowing them it's a lesson they are going to have to learn the hard way!!! The ducks are already visiting the pond so I'm not sure there's a lot M&D can do to deter them, but they might still think again about encouraging them. The good news though is that we caught a Great Crested Newt today - a female one! It was HUGE and I'll post a pretty naff photo shortly  I'm absolutely 100% positive it's a GCN because it was warty looking, orange underneath and BIG! |
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Post by plocket on Apr 10, 2007 18:59:59 GMT 1
Here's the newt - sorry the second photo is so blurred but it was trying to get away!!! I think it was about 7 inches long - it seemed huge compared to the other newts we usually see, but mum says she's seen a few of these newts about.   |
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Post by The witch on Apr 11, 2007 11:35:37 GMT 1
Have a read of this P www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/478.shtmlquote: Conservation status
Great crested newts have declined within the UK over recent years, due to the destruction and pollution of their breeding sites and terrestrial habitat. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Habitat Regulations Act of 1994. It is illegal to catch, possess or handle great crested newts without a licence and it is also illegal to cause them harm or death, or to disturb their habitat in any way. The IUCN Red List categorises the species as ‘lower risk’. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 11, 2007 12:56:34 GMT 1
Oh dear Pocket, you shouldnt have caught them .....and you cant deliberately add ducks to the pond...on the other hand your M&D`s pond is now sacred, and cant be interfered with..which is cool!  |
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Post by plocket on Apr 11, 2007 13:40:16 GMT 1
No we didn't catch them and move them to mum's pond - we were fishing out some blanket weed and they got caught up in the net!!! We carefully put them back without touching them too.
Does "disturbing" their habitat mean planting Kingcups is wrong? OMG mum will have a fit!!!!! ;D
And the ducks already visit the pond - mum's just put a floating crate in to encourage the ducks to nest. I think she's bonkers but it's her pond!
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Post by The witch on Apr 11, 2007 17:29:56 GMT 1
Does "disturbing" their habitat mean planting Kingcups is wrong? OMG mum will have a fit!!!!! ;D I doubt it |
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Post by plocket on Apr 11, 2007 19:07:03 GMT 1
Phew! Mum likes her Kingcups!!!
I'm scared of sharing information now in case I'm revealing too much information! ;D
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Post by The witch on Apr 11, 2007 22:07:29 GMT 1
Phew! Mum likes her Kingcups!!! I'm scared of sharing information now in case I'm revealing too much information! ;D Mums the word then P  |
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Post by plocket on Apr 12, 2007 9:41:47 GMT 1
She phoned me last night and asked me not to tell anyone - SSSSSHHHHH! You don't know about it ok!!!
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Post by madonplants on Apr 12, 2007 10:57:51 GMT 1
You remember that message at the beginning, when I said I wish I could see a blue or great tit? Well yesterday I did, a blue tit in the tree out front. Also about 40 minutes ago, I saw a robin taking nesting material into the big ivy in our back garden. ;D Great news eh, in a garden I thought was devoid of other species? Now, how about a sparrow?
Keith
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Post by plocket on Apr 12, 2007 11:44:05 GMT 1
Hurrah! Oh I AM pleased for you Madon! I can remember when London seemed to be over-run with sparrows - I still find it funny that they are scarce now! |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 12, 2007 13:13:16 GMT 1
I have been clearing some overgrown ivy on the garage wall, may put some photos on my garden thread, and found an old nest, which looked like a robin's one, so this confirmed it. Because I was annoyed at myself for not spotting it, even though I had looked, I bought a combination nest box on Monday, but maybe I am too late. I hurt my wrist doing the ivy, so haven't finished it yet. When I do I will put the box up, maybe as a tit box!!
Wish I had a before shot of the ivy, so an after would look better. Two young boys from across the way, wanted to keep the old nest, why I don't know. I told them it probably was a robin's one, but not 100% sure, just maybe 95%.
I hate pulling muscles or worse, especially when the garden beckons!!
Keith
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Post by The witch on Apr 14, 2007 11:19:51 GMT 1
Hurrah! Oh I AM pleased for you Madon! I can remember when London seemed to be over-run with sparrows - I still find it funny that they are scarce now! Quote: Its first decline in numbers came between the wars, as horse transportation gave way to the motor car. The birds had enjoyed feeding on grain spilt from nosebags or undigested in dung. |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 17, 2007 16:43:23 GMT 1
Here is the proof at last. I have been after a shot for some time now, but it seems to know when I get the camera out!!  Keith |
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but the smell took a long time to go away 
